Adjustable cross brace



Feb. 6, 1968 R. MccLx-:LLAND ADJUSTABLE CROSS BRACE Filed Oct. 25, 1965 m .ad

mvENroR Il I Roar M CLaLLAND @www United States Patent Ofice 3,367,080 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,080 ADJUSTABLE CROSS BRACE Robert McClelland, Butler, Wis., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,638 2 Claims. (Cl. 5264'5) ABSTRACT F THE DIStCLSURE Aa pair of pivotally connected adjustable cross brace assemblies for use in construction scaffolding, each cross brace assembly including first and second tubular telescopingly engaged members having a plurality of longitudinally and equally spaced openings which extend completely the-rethrough. A single removable pin member is provided for insertion through aligned openings in the first and second members of each cross brace assembly, said pin member extending trst through one assembly and then through the other assembly to pivotally connect the two assemblies together. The effective length of each cross brace assembly can thus be adjusted by simply mounting the pins through different sets of aligned openings in the members.

This invention relates to improvement in adjustable cross braces of the type used in constructing scaffolding and similar structures.

Prior to this invention there were various types of adjustable cross braces available commercially, all of which are subject to certain shortcomings. One such type is comprised of a pair of cross members permanently pivoted together at their center with each cross member provided with telescoping end portions for use with scafiold structures of varying dimensions. Another approach was to use a pair of cross members permanently pivoted together each having a series of spaced openings at the ends thereof to accommodate structures or different size. This type, of course, can result when installed in a cross brace having its ends extending beyond the vertical support members to which it is connected. Probably the most common approach is to use non-adjustable braces of various lengths which, of course, requires large inventories to accommodate the various applications encountered in the field.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved brace which is of relatively simple construction, can be easily adjusted, and is not subject to the shortcomings of the prior designs.

The objects of this invention are attained by a pair of cross brace assemblies, each of which is comprised of a first and second member with the end of one member telescopically engaged with the end of the other member. Such first and second members are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough in the portions of their telescopic engagement.

A removable pin member is provided for insertion through aligned openings in the first and second members of each cross brace assembly, said pin member extending first through one assembly and then through the other to pivotally connect the two assemblies together.

The efiective length of each cross brace assembly can be adjusted by simply inserting the pin through different sets of openings in the members. The resulting structure provides extreme ease of adjustability with standard size parts of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the description and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation view of an adjustable cross brace structure embodying this invention which is shown in assembled position on a scaffold structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 but showing how the cross brace structure can be adjusted for mounting on a scaffolding structure of different dimension;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of one of the two parts which together form a single cross brace assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the other part which is used with the part shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmnetary view of a single cross brace assembly in assembled position with the Central portion thereof broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cross brace structure of this invention is comprised of a pair of cross brace units or assemblies 10 and 12 of identical construction. Each assembly 10 and 12 is comprised of a pair of telescoping members 14 and 16 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. Member 16 shown in FIG. 4 has an end portion 18 with a cavity 20 formed therein and a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 22 therethrough. Member 14 (FIG. 3) is provided with an end portion 24 which is of a diameter small enough to be telescopically received in cavity 20 of member 16 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the end portion 24 of member 16 is also provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 26 extending therethrough.

The other ends of members 14 and 16 are provided with fiattened end portions 28 and 30, respectively, having openings 32 therein for connection of the members to the vertical members 34 of a scaffold or similar structure by means of wing nuts 36 threaded onto threaded lugs 38 on such vertical members as shown in FIGS. l and 2.

While end portion 24 of member 14 and cavity 20 of member 16 are shown in the drawings as having a circular cross section, it should be understood that other cross sectional configurations could be employed as long as the two parts can be telescopically fitted together.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross brace structure of this invention can be adjusted for use on vertical scaffolds of various size. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the cross brace assemblies can be arranged for cross bracing vertical members which are positioned at a distance of 4 ft., 5 ft., 6 ft., 7 ft. and 8 ft. apart.

For example, in the FIG. 1 ar-rangement the assemblies 10 and 12 are positioned for maximum spacing of members 34 and in this position the end openings 26 and 22 of members 14 and 16, respectively, are positioned in alignment with each other and as so positioned the two assemblies are pivotally connected together by means of a single bolt member 35 and a nut 37 threaded thereon. The single bolt, it should be noted, serves not only t0 pivotally connect the two cross brace assemblies to each other but also serves to properly position and hold the two members 14 and 16 of each unit in assembled position to provide an overall cross brace structure of a predetermined size.

When it becomes necessary to use the cross brace structure described above on scaffolding having vertical members 34 spaced at a shorter distance yapart as shown n FIG. 2, the blot 35 is simply removed. The assemblies 10 and 12 are then shortened by inserting end portions 24 of members 14 further into cavities 20 in members 16 until the innermost openings 22 and 26 of the two members are in alignment. With each assembly so positioned, the two assemblies are fastened together with bolt 36 to produce a shortened cross brace structure like that shown in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the adjustment in cross brace size is very readily accomplished with the structure of this invention. It will also be noted that such structure is of relatively simple design and therefore of relatively low cost. Finally, it should be noted that the connections between the ends 28 and 30 of the cross members and the vertical members 34 are always such that there will never be a situation where the ends of the cross braces will extend beyond the vertical members and thus create possible interference with movement on the scaffold.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Cross brace structure comprising:

a pair of cross brace assemblies pivotally connected together, each of said cross brace units comprising first and second members with one end of said rst member telescopically engaged with one end of said second member, said one ends of said rst and second members provided with a plurality of equally spaced longitudinally spaced openings extending completely therethrough, a single removable pin member extending through aligned openings in the rst and second members of one cross brace assembly and then through aligned openings in the rst and second members of the other cross brace assembly, the other ends of said rst and second members of each unit adapted for removable connection to the structure to be braced.

2. Cross brace structure comprising:

a pair of cross brace assemblies each including a pair of telescopically engaged members having a plurality of longitudinally equally spaced openings extending completely therethrough in the telescopically engaged portions of said members, said members comprising tubes having smooth inner and outer surfaces; and

a removable pin means including a single pin member extending through aligned openings in said telescopically engaged members of both said assemblies, said removable pin means serving to pivotally connect the two assemblies to each other and also serving as a means to adjust the elective length of each of said cross brace assemblies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,190,406 6/1965 Usher et al 52-695 X 2/1954 Usher et al. 24S-172 Xv 

